JP2019200295A - Optical scanner and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an optical scanner and image formation device that suppress the increase in cost and reduce the entry of dust.SOLUTION: An optical scanner includes: a light source 1 for emitting a laser beam; a deflector 4 for deflecting the laser beam; and frame bodies 8 and 11 for storing the deflector 4. The frame bodies 8 and 11 include: a laser transmission unit 12 for transmitting the laser beam to radiate the laser beam to the outside of the optical scanner; and an adjacent unit 15a adjacent to the laser transmission unit 12. The laser transmission unit 12 and the adjacent unit 15a are integrally molded using resin. The laser transmission unit 12 is made of resin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and an optical scanning device used therefor.

  A conventional optical scanning device used in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer optically modulates laser light emitted from a light source in accordance with an image signal, and deflects the light-modulated laser light by a deflector composed of, for example, a rotating polygon mirror. Scan. Optical components such as a rotating polygon mirror and a scanning lens constituting the optical scanning device are accommodated in a casing, and the casing is closed with a lid. The casing or the lid includes an opening for allowing laser light deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror to pass from the inside of the casing to the outside, and a transparent member for closing the opening.

  The proposal which fixes this transparent member with a lid | cover with a double-sided tape is made | formed (refer patent document 1). In addition, a proposal has been made to heat-adhere between a transparent member and a lid via a thermosetting sealing material (see Patent Document 2).

JP2015-145916A JP2015-52700A

  However, Patent Documents 1 and 2 have the following problems.

  A transparent member and a fixing member for the lid such as a double-sided tape or a sealing material are required, which increases the cost of fixing equipment and assembly man-hours.

  Further, due to the surface properties such as the warp of the lid and the uneven shape, there is a possibility that a gap is generated in the contact portion between the transparent member and the lid, and dust may enter from there and affect the image.

  For this reason, there has been a demand for an optical scanning device and an image forming apparatus that suppress an increase in cost and reduce the entry of dust into the interior.

Therefore, the present invention provides
A light source that emits laser light;
A deflector for deflecting the laser beam;
An optical scanning device having a frame housing the deflector,
The frame includes a laser transmitting portion that transmits the laser light to emit the laser light to the outside of the optical scanning device, and an adjacent portion adjacent to the laser transmitting portion,
The laser transmitting portion and the adjacent portion provide an optical scanning device that is integrally formed of resin.

The present invention also provides:
A light source that emits laser light;
A deflector for deflecting the laser beam;
An optical scanning device having a frame housing the deflector,
The frame includes a laser transmitting portion that transmits the laser light to emit the laser light to the outside of the optical scanning device, and an adjacent portion adjacent to the laser transmitting portion,
The laser transmitting portion and the adjacent portion provide an optical scanning device including the same resin.
Furthermore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus.

  As a result, it is possible to provide an optical scanning device and an image forming apparatus that suppress an increase in cost and reduce the entry of dust into the interior.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view before the lid of the optical scanning device according to the first embodiment is assembled. FIG. 3 is a perspective view after assembly of the lid of the optical scanning device according to the first embodiment. (A) The internal perspective view of the lid | cover of the optical scanning device in Example 1. FIG. (B) AA sectional view of FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of mounting the optical scanning device in the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is an external view when adjusting the irradiation position of the optical scanning device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an internal perspective view of the optical scanning device in Embodiment 2 when adjusting the irradiation position. (A) External view of the lid | cover of the optical scanning device in Example 2. FIG. (B) CC sectional drawing of (A) of FIG. Explanatory drawing of the adhesion fixation of the light source device of the optical scanning device in Example 2. FIG. FIG. 6A is an internal detail view of an optical scanning device in Embodiment 3. (B) DD sectional drawing of (A) of FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of adhesive fixing of an imaging lens of an optical scanning device in Embodiment 3.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. That is, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to the following embodiments.

  An image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device according to the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, first, an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device according to the present embodiment will be described as an example, and then the optical scanning device will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an image forming apparatus equipped with an optical scanning device 101 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment includes an optical scanning device 101. The optical scanning device 101 scans an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum, and a recording material such as recording paper is scanned based on the scanned image. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that performs image formation. Here, a laser printer will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus (printer) 110 emits a laser beam based on the obtained image information from an optical scanning device 101 as an exposure unit, and is built in a process cartridge 102. The surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103 is irradiated. A latent image is formed on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103, and the latent image on the surface is visualized as a toner image by the toner as a developer by the process cartridge 102. Note that the process cartridge 102 integrally includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member 103 and a charging unit, a developing unit, and the like as process units that act on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103.

  On the other hand, the recording materials P stacked on the recording material stacking plate 104 are fed one by one while being separated one by one by the feeding roller 105, and then conveyed further downstream by the intermediate roller 106. On the conveyed recording material P, the toner image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103 is transferred by the transfer roller 107. The recording material P is further conveyed downstream, and the toner image is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 108 and fixed to the recording material P. Thereafter, the recording material P is discharged out of the image forming apparatus by the discharge roller 109.

  In this embodiment, the process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103 is provided with the charging means and the developing means in the process cartridge 102 integrally with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103. However, each process means is provided with the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103. It may be configured separately from the body 103.

  Next, details of the optical scanning device 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 are internal configuration diagrams of the optical scanning device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state before the lid is assembled, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view after the lid is assembled.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a light source device comprising a semiconductor laser as a light source, a collimator lens for condensing the laser light, and a circuit board for controlling light emission of the semiconductor laser. Reference numeral 2 denotes a cylindrical lens, and reference numeral 3 denotes an aperture (aperture) that shapes the laser light into a predetermined shape. Reference numeral 4 denotes a rotating polygon mirror, and reference numeral 5 denotes a drive configuration for driving the rotating polygon mirror 4 to rotate. In this specification, the rotating polygon mirror 4 and the drive configuration 5 constitute a deflector 45. Reference numeral 6 is an imaging lens, reference numeral 7 is a laser beam, reference numeral 8 is a casing that is a part of the frame, reference numeral 9 is a laser opening of the laser beam 7 formed in the casing 8, and reference numeral 10 is a casing. 8 is a protrusion formed on the base plate. Further, reference numeral 11 denotes a lid that is a part of the frame, reference numeral 12 denotes a laser transmitting portion, and reference numeral 13 denotes an engaging portion formed on the lid 11.

In this embodiment, the casing 8 and the lid 11 constitute a frame of the optical scanning device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the frame may be constituted by including other members. The lid 11 has a laser transmitting portion 12 and adjacent portions 15a to 15d adjacent to the laser transmitting portion. The laser transmitting portion 12 and the adjacent portions 15a to 15d are structures integrally formed of the same resin. For this reason, there is no gap at the boundary between the laser transmitting portion 12 and the adjacent portion 15, which is a series of surfaces. The adjacent portion 15 is attached with a light shielding member or the like so as to shield the laser light. Conventionally, since the transparent member is attached to the lid, dust may enter through the gap. However, in this case, since the lower adjacent portion 15a, the right adjacent portion 15b, the upper adjacent portion 15c, and the left adjacent portion 15d are all integrally formed, there is a gap around the laser transmitting portion. Since no is formed, dust does not enter.
The adjustment / assembly method in the above configuration will be described.

  The light source device 1 is connected to the housing 8 in a state where the circuit board is connected to a semiconductor laser as a light source and the optical adjustment of the collimator lens is completed, and the cylindrical lens 2 is temporarily placed on the housing 8. The aperture 3 is formed in the housing 8 in a constant manner. The deflector 45 and the imaging lens 6 on which the rotary polygon mirror 4 is mounted are positioned at predetermined positions on the housing 8 and are fixed by screws, fixtures, or the like. Further, the cylindrical lens 2 is moved in the optical axis direction of the laser light emitted from the light source device 1 to adjust the focal position of the laser light and fixed by bonding or the like.

  As described above, the optical adjustment of the optical scanning device 8 is completed, and the engaging portion 13 of the lid 11 protrudes from the housing 8 at a position where the laser transmitting portion 12 of the lid 11 closes the laser opening 9 of the housing 8. The optical scanning device 101 is completed by being locked by the portion 10. The engaging portion 13 of the lid 11 has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and is arranged so as to sandwich the laser transmitting portion 12 on the side having the laser transmitting portion 12. That is, the deflector 45, the cylindrical lens 2, the aperture 3, and the imaging lens 6 are accommodated in the casing 8 and the lid 11 that are frames.

  Next, the basic operation of the optical scanning device 101 will be described. The laser light generated from the light source device 1 passes through the cylindrical lens 2 and the aperture 3, irradiates the rotary polygon mirror 4 of the deflector 45, and is deflected and scanned. The laser beam deflected and scanned passes through the imaging lens 6 and the laser transmission part 12 of the lid 11 and forms an image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103. The laser beam 7 formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103 is scanned in the main scanning direction by the rotation of the rotary polygon mirror 4. At the same time, the laser beam is scanned in the sub-scanning direction (the rotation direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103) by the rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103. By this scanning, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103.

  Further, part of the laser light deflected and scanned by the deflector 5 enters the scan start signal detector, and writing modulation of the light source device 1 is started by the output signal of the scan start signal detector.

  Next, the lid 11 which is a part of the frame will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A is a perspective view of the lid 11, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 4A. In FIG. 4B, reference numeral 14 denotes a light shielding surface. The lid 11 which is a part of the frame is formed of a resin material having a high transmittance at the wavelength of laser light, such as a transparent acrylic resin. Transparent resins include polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate. Polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate are selected when strength is required because they have lower light transmittance than acrylic but have higher impact resistance. Compared to acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate has an impact resistance of about 4 times, and polycarbonate has an impact resistance of about 50 times.

  The light shielding surface 14 indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 4B is formed by coating the inner surface side so that the laser light is transmitted through the wall surface excluding the laser transmitting portion 12 and is not irradiated to the outside. The lid, which is a part of the frame of the present embodiment, includes a laser transmitting portion 12 that transmits laser light and laser light shielding portions 15 and 16 that shield laser light. The laser light shielding part includes an adjacent part 15 adjacent to the laser transmitting part. Since the laser transmitting portion 12 and the adjacent portion 15 are formed by integral molding of resin, the boundary between the laser transmitting portion 12 and the adjacent portion 15 is formed including a series of the same resin. For this reason, there is no gap through which dust can pass at the boundary between the laser transmitting portion 12 and the adjacent portion 15.

  In addition, although the laser shading part 16 of the present Example 1 was set as the structure which coats the inner surface side of the lid | cover 11, the structure which coats the outer surface side, the structure which roughens at least one of an inner surface or an outer surface, or coating Instead, another light shielding member may be arranged.

  In this embodiment, the lid that is a part of the frame is formed of a transparent resin that can transmit laser light. Then, a portion where the laser beam is not desired to be transmitted is subjected to a light shielding process, so that no gap for dust to enter inside the optical scanning device is formed. Therefore, since a new dustproof member is not required, the influence of dust on the image can be reduced at a low cost.

  Next, the optical scanning device 201 of Example 2 will be described. In the description of the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of mounting the optical scanning device 201 on the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 203 denotes a housing that is a part of the frame, reference numeral 204 denotes a light source device including a light source, and reference numeral 205 denotes a support plate that supports the optical scanning device. Reference numeral 31 denotes a rib which is a holding portion formed in the housing 203, reference numeral 41 denotes a flange held in the holding portion formed in the light source device 204, and reference numeral 51 denotes an ultraviolet curable adhesive.

  The optical scanning device 201 is fixed by a fixing unit on a support plate 205 configured in the image forming apparatus in a state where the lid 202 and the light source device 204 are not assembled. The light source device 204 is inserted into the housing 203 in the direction of arrow B, and the ultraviolet curable adhesive 51 is applied so as to straddle both the rib 31 of the housing 203 and the flange 41 of the light source device 204. Thereafter, the lid 202 is assembled to the housing 203 and integrated.

  Next, the position adjustment of the light source device 204 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the state in which the lid 202 is assembled, and FIG. 7 is an internal perspective view for explaining the adjustment of the light source device 204.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 21 denotes an opening formed in the lid 202, and reference numeral 22 denotes a condensing lens part that is a condensing part. Reference numeral 206 denotes a clamp jig. The lid 202 is made of, for example, a transparent acrylic resin or the like, which is a resin material having a high transmittance at the wavelength of laser light and ultraviolet light. The details of the lid 202 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B described later.

  The clamp jig 206 enters from the opening 21 of the lid 202 and grips the light source device 204. Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the clamp jig 206 moves the light source device 204 in the directions of the arrows x and y by the drive control unit, and irradiates the laser beam 7 on the surface corresponding to the electrophotographic photosensitive member 103. Adjust the position (arrow x direction, y direction).

  Next, the bonding and fixing of the light source device 204 after the irradiation position adjustment of the laser light 7 is completed will be described. 8A is an external view of the lid 202, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of adhesion fixing with an adhesive interposed in the housing 203 of the light source device 204. Reference numeral 61 denotes an ultraviolet irradiation head, and reference numeral 62 denotes an ultraviolet ray.

  Ultraviolet rays 62 are irradiated from the ultraviolet irradiation head 61 toward the ultraviolet curable adhesive 51 applied to the rib 31 and the flange 41 inside the frame. The ultraviolet rays 62 are condensed by the lens unit which is the condensing unit 22 of the lid 202 and irradiated to the ultraviolet curable adhesive 51. The ultraviolet curable adhesive irradiated with ultraviolet rays is cured, and a rib that is a holding portion of a casing that is a part of the frame and a flange of a light source device including a light source are bonded and fixed with an adhesive interposed therebetween.

  In the second embodiment, the ultraviolet rays are collected in a lens shape formed on the lid 202, but may be formed in a Fresnel shape or the like. Moreover, you may adhere | attach and fix the other components comprised inside a housing | casing similarly.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the light source device can be positioned and fixed in a state where the optical scanning device with the lid attached is fixed to the image forming apparatus. As a result, the lid assembly operation does not occur after the light source device is positioned. Therefore, the lid assembly operation does not affect the laser beam irradiation position accuracy on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Further, since an error in the assembly position between the optical scanning device and the image forming apparatus can be eliminated, the irradiation position of the laser beam on the electrophotographic photosensitive member can be made with high accuracy. Therefore, an image forming apparatus with high image quality can be realized.

  In addition, since the ultraviolet light is condensed by the lens-shaped condensing part formed on the lid, the amount of ultraviolet light and the bonding time can be reduced, and an inexpensive image forming apparatus with a small number of assembly steps can be realized.

  Next, the optical scanning device 301 of Example 3 will be described. In the description of the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  10A is an internal detail view of the optical scanning device 301, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 10A.

  Reference numeral 302 denotes a casing that is a part of the frame, reference numeral 303 denotes a lid that is a part of the frame, reference numeral 71 denotes a laser transmitting portion formed in the casing 302, and reference numeral 72 denotes an ultraviolet ray formed in the casing 302. The transmission part, 81 is a mirror.

  The laser light 7 emitted from the light source device 1 is deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 4, passes through the imaging lens 6, is reflected by the mirror 81, and passes through the laser transmitting portion 71 of the housing 302, and is electrophotographic photosensitive. The body 103 is irradiated.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the adhesive fixing of the imaging lens 6. Reference numeral 73 denotes an ultraviolet curable adhesive. An adhesive 73 is applied in advance to a fixing portion of the housing 302 with the imaging lens 6, and the imaging lens 6 is disposed at a predetermined position. The ultraviolet irradiation head 61 is disposed above the imaging lens 6 and below the ultraviolet transmission part 72 of the housing 302, and is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from the upper and lower directions of the adhesive 73 to form an image by curing the adhesive. The lens 6 is fixed to the housing 302. Thereafter, the lid 303 is assembled to the housing 302 and integrated.

  The housing 302 which is a part of the frame is integrally formed of a resin material having a high transmittance with respect to laser light and ultraviolet rays such as a transparent acrylic resin. Further, the portions other than the laser transmitting portion 71 and the ultraviolet transmitting portion 72 of the housing 302 are configured so that laser light and ultraviolet rays do not enter and are not irradiated to the outside by painting, roughening, or disposing another member. The

  As with the lids of the first and second embodiments, the casing is made of a transparent resin that can transmit laser light, so that an opening for transmitting the laser light is unnecessary and the dustproof performance of the optical scanning device is improved. can do.

  Furthermore, in a housing made of a material that does not transmit ultraviolet rays, it is necessary to irradiate ultraviolet light from the outside of the housing from the optical component side inside the housing. However, in this embodiment, it is possible to irradiate ultraviolet rays through the casing from the outside of the casing.

  This makes it possible to reduce the amount of ultraviolet light and the curing adhesion time. Further, it is possible to prevent uncured adhesive. Thus, an inexpensive and highly reliable optical scanning apparatus with a small number of assembly steps can be realized.

8, 203, 302 Case 11, 202 Lid 12, 71 Laser transmitting part 22 Condensing part 72 Ultraviolet transmitting part

Claims (10)

A light source that emits laser light;
A deflector for deflecting the laser beam;
An optical scanning device having a frame housing the deflector,
The frame includes a laser transmitting portion that transmits the laser light to emit the laser light to the outside of the optical scanning device, and an adjacent portion adjacent to the laser transmitting portion,
The laser scanning portion and the adjacent portion are integrally formed of a resin, and the optical scanning device is characterized in that A light source that emits laser light;
A deflector for deflecting the laser beam;
An optical scanning device having a frame housing the deflector,
The frame includes a laser transmitting portion that transmits the laser light to emit the laser light to the outside of the optical scanning device, and an adjacent portion adjacent to the laser transmitting portion,
The laser scanning portion and the adjacent portion contain the same resin.   3. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes an ultraviolet ray transmitting portion capable of transmitting ultraviolet rays. 4.   The optical scanning device according to claim 3, wherein the frame includes a condensing unit that collects ultraviolet rays inside the frame.   5. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the frame that is not the laser transmitting portion shields laser light. 6. The frame is composed of a first frame and a second frame,
6. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the first frame body includes the transmission portion. The frame includes a holding unit that holds a light source device having the light source,
The optical scanning device according to claim 4, wherein the condensing unit condenses the ultraviolet light toward an adhesive interposed between the light source device and the holding unit.   The first frame body is provided with a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion that engage with the second frame body on the same surface side as the transmission portion so as to sandwich the transmission portion. The optical scanning device according to claim 6.   The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resin is an acrylic resin. An optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An image carrier that is irradiated with laser light emitted from an optical scanning device and forms a latent image on the surface;
An image forming apparatus for developing an image on a recording material by developing the latent image and transferring the developed image to the recording material.

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